Damontre Moore Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for Texas A&M DE/LB

Heading into the NFL Scouting Combine, Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore was one of the hottest names. An extraordinarily productive pass rusher, many penciled him into the top 10 picks of their mock drafts.

Following a disappointing performance in Indianapolis, many evaluators have been forced to take a closer look at Moore's tape.

So can he become a top shelf NFL pass rusher? Is Moore versatile or is he simply a "tweener," lacking a true position? Should your favorite team spend a first round pick on him? I explore those questions and more in my scouting report.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

+ Good motor and overall effort level

- Struggles to anchor at the point of attack

+ Excellent length, 6' 4.5" with 34.75" arms

- Not a dynamic or explosive edge rusher

+ Impressive awareness, instincts

- Average workout numbers

+ Very productive, 45 TFL and 26.5 sacks in three years

- Can be too aggressive, occasionally overrunning the play

Tools

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Damontre Moore was one that received headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

While he looks the part at 6’4.5", 250 pounds with very long, 34.75” arms, Moore is a relatively average athlete. He looks faster on tape than his 4.95 40 time would indicate, but he lacks the explosiveness and fluidity of some of his peers.

His performance in Indianapolis may have left a sour taste in the mouths of some evaluators. In addition to an average workout, Moore managed just a mediocre 12 reps of 225 in the bench press. The “t-shirt and shorts” setting certainly was not tailored to his strengths.

Intangibles

Damontre Moore gradually elevated his game and was rewarded with consensus All-American honors as a Junior.

Though he dealt with maturity and motivation issues earlier in his college career, Moore seems to have moved on in a positive direction. A strong work ethic and passion for the game are evident when he talks football.

The graph above illustrates Damontre Moore's college production (shown in purple) compared to other prospects at his position. Oregon's Dion Jordan is indicated by the color green, LSU's Barkevious Mingo red,and BYU's Ezekiel Ansah (blue.)

System

During his time in College Station, Damontre Moore was exposed to a variety of schemes and was counted on in several different roles. He lined up on both sides for the Aggies and played every position from 5-tech, to “Joker” linebacker, to end in a wide 9 formation. They asked quite a bit of him, as he ran a lot of stunts, dropped into coverage and was used as a “spy” at times.

Pass Rush

Damontre Moore ended his Texas A&M career as one of the most productive pass rushers in school history. Blessed with length and short area burst, he established himself

Several factors make Moore an effective pass rusher. First, the aforementioned length allows him to keep blockers at bay. He displays excellent awareness and possesses a high enough football IQ to identify sack opportunities. Furthermore, his motor does not quit, punishing linemen that have difficulty sustaining their blocks.

Despite impressive production, I am leery of his success translating to the next level. Moore lacks the flexibility of other top pass rushers, appearing slightly stiff. He is not much of a threat to take the edge from his defensive end spot and does not run the arc as well as you would like to see.

Against the Run

Watching Damontre Moore with a critical eye, he leaves much to be desired against the run.

Though I am satisfied with his overall effort level, he too often stands straight up out of his stance and has trouble anchoring at the point of attack. This is particularly detrimental when teams run at him, as he too easily loses contain and winds up turned around. Additionally, he can be found guilty of being too aggressive at times, taking himself out of position to make a play.

Having said that, I am generally impressed by Moore’s level of comfort in space. He appears fairly natural and flashes good recognition skills. For his size, he exhibits outstanding range, playing the run less like a defensive end and more like a linebacker.

Tackling

As I mentioned earlier, Damontre Moore enjoyed tremendous success in his three seasons in College Station. The Aggies most productive defender, he led the team in tackles (85), tackles for loss (21.0) and sacks (12.5) as a junior. He even managed to force eight fumbles in his brief Texas A&M career

Part of what has made Moore so effective is his ability to break down and explode into ball carriers. Likewise, he is relentless in pursuit, tracking the ball and chasing all over the field.

While he lunged at times, missing some tackles, his motor and instincts allowed him to work his way into position to make plays. It appears as if Moore wanted to be involved in every stop.

Use of Hands

One physical attribute that stands out immediately are Moore’s long, 34.75” arms. Whether playing the run or rushing the passer, he uses his length to keep blockers away from his body. Overall, he seems to do a nice job at shedding blocks.

That all said, Moore is not especially violent or disruptive at the point of attack. He does not generate much power with his hands and is not one to physically dominate blockers.

Future Role/Scheme Versatility

After watching Damontre Moore extensively, I concluded that he is best suited standing up and playing outside linebacker in 3-4 defense. Where some players show tremendous versatility, he is more of a "tweener" whose flaws must be minimized by a position change in the NFL.

He does not strike me as a particularly dominant edge rushing prospect, but could develop into a reliable starter capable of pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run. Awareness and short area burst could make Moore effective in a scheme that utilizes zone blitz packages.